The study is rooted in a large field of study called the African Religious Health Assets Program [ARHAP], which has developed a theory to help establish the link between religion and health in health care. These assets [referring to what is present in these institutions] are labeled 'religious health assets' in this thesis.
Introduction
Background
In response to past and recent developments in the realm of health and religion, a number of Churches and Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) have established programs and projects that direct health-related activities. A primary focus of ARHARP is to examine the vital role that religion and religious entities play in contributing to community health.
Motivation for the research
This phenomenon poses a challenge for the church and its ministry in the field of responding to people's well-being. The Church in Zambia, with its multifaceted human-centered resources, capabilities, networks and programs, plays a vital role in the well-being of the people.
Research Problem and objectives
The secondary research question concerned the implications of the information gathered from the case studies and the impact it has on the ARHAP theoretical framework. This study, while assuming the theoretical framework of the matrix as a starting point, has also contributed to the validation and further development of the concept as a working theory on religious health assets.
Research Design and Methodology
Such a limited case study approach will not allow for generalization of the results, but will provide some depth to the analysis of the interaction of religion and health on the Copper Belt. The results of the findings are presented in chapters five and six under research analysis and theological reflection respectively.
Geographical location of the study
Summary of research findings
The findings showed that religion plays a major role in human relationships and the well-being of individuals and communities. In addition to these findings, the research identified the following ways in which religion functions as an "asset" for the well-being and health of people in the Copperbelt.
Summary of Theological Insights
The church is called in its integral mission to engage in health, healing, and well-being in its demonstration of God's love for the world. The direct and indirect health outcomes resulting from the activities and services offered by religious health institutions contribute to the well-being not only of the people, but also of the communities.
Structure and content of the dissertation
The analyzes of the research findings are presented, showing the direct and indirect contribution of religious health assets to the well-being of people in the Copperbelt. Chapter seven deals with the general reflections on the research objectives; and provides recommendations and conclusions about the overall research.
Conclusion
AN OVERVIEW OF HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROVINCE OF BRIZI AND THE IMPACT OF STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS IN. This chapter describes the development of health provision in Zambia with a particular focus on the Copperbelt Province.
Zambia’s Demography and health Statistics .1 Demography .1 Demography
Health facilities and Infrastructures
There is also a School of Public Health at The Chainama Hills College, which opened in 1978 and offers a variety of short courses on public health related topics and degrees in clinical medical sciences and environmental health technology. In 1981 TDRC became the national institution for research, training and services in diseases of public health importance in Zambia.
Development of the health sector during the Kaunda government
Private -mine-owned Private -mine-owned Private -mine-owned Private -mine-owned Private -mine-owned Private- mine-owned Private- mine-owned State Mission-owned Mission-owned State. Seshamani and Mwikisa19 make the observation that with the decline in the country's economy due to poor copper prices, the government could not fund the public health sector adequately, which gradually affected health provision and led to the deterioration of services.
The change of government and the new health policies, their impact on health provision
It is important to note that both the public and private health services, including all ZCCM health facilities, were not spared in the structural adjustment programme. New health policies were introduced to reduce and limit spending that led to the health reforms.
Impact of Structural adjustment program (SAP) and Privatization on health provision
The sale of mining hospitals and the imposition of user fees led to a decline in the quality of health services especially in the mining towns of the Copperbelt where the mines had provided good medical services. The outcome of the PSA and the privatization policy brought about a major upheaval in the health services and therefore had a major negative impact on the well-being of the people.
Health reforms and their impact on health services
The results of health reforms
The introduction of the reference system35 in health reforms is another negative consequence that has affected people. On the contrary, the overall results of the health reforms have worked against their intended purpose.
Impact of Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) and privatization on livelihood of people
Over 60,000 people have lost their jobs as a direct result of the economic liberalization program introduced after 1991. 49 Although the spending cut was a necessary step, it nevertheless showed some of the negative impact of SAP on people's livelihoods.
HIV and AIDS and its impact on health services
54 These statistics clearly show the impact of HIV and AIDS on Zambians and the crisis it has caused on the health services. 57 HIV and AIDS in Zambia, Central Board of Health, Background projections impact interventions (Lusaka.
Religion in Zambia
This new trend has resulted in many new Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) being registered with the Association of Registrars. This increased the participation of churches and activities in the community and public life of the nation. 62 Blas and Limbambala noted significantly that the health reforms took place during a period of political, economic and religious change. 63 This explains why many FBO religious activities in Zambia are growing with unprecedented speed.
An overview of religious health services and Networks in Zambia
Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) Hindu Association of Zambia (HAZ) Islamic Council of Zambia (ICZ). ZINGO brings together all the above major faiths in Zambia in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
ARHAP research and its relationship to this thesis
The other related organization involved in health is the Traditional Healers and Practitioners in Zambia, THPAZ. THPAZ provides a network for traditional healers; it acts as a link between the government and traditional healers.
Conclusion
Although THPAZ is not directly a religious entity, some of its affiliated members, such as traditional healers, consult spirits [that is, divination] in their healing procedures. The above shows the different ways in which religious activities are involved in the provision of health care and healing in Zambia.
Introduction
Descriptive overview of ARHAP
The vision of ARHAP
Consequently, very little is known, for example in Africa, about what FBOs do, how they do it, how they fit with public health systems (if at all), how they can be used to scale up their work and push, at the grassroots level, public health interventions to key crisis points. ARHAP as a research program has identified this gap and set out to investigate the potential that lies in religious health assets and how they can be aligned with public health delivery.
Goals and objectives of ARHAP
These goals and objectives direct and guide ARHAP's program in its effort to develop a systematic knowledge base of religious health services. These are intended to strengthen the work of religious health leaders and public policy decision makers in their collective effort to meet the challenge of disease and participate in the creation of healthy communities.
Definition and understanding of terms used in this study
- Religion
- Health
- Assets
- Agency
- Religious Entities
This understanding of health incorporates everything that contributes to human well-being, such as hospitals, medical facilities, and all medical therapies. This broad understanding of health, which is more than the absence of disease, but which includes an individual's well-being and all that contributes to the same, is what ARHAP defines as health in its research study.
ARHAP research project activities in general- the bigger picture
Another major study conducted by ARHAP was the recent study on faith-based healthcare services in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Masangane is a faith-based organization providing antiretroviral treatment (ART) in a rural community.
ARHAP activities in Zambia
Findings from the ARHAP research in Zambia
On the findings on the nature of the contribution of religious entities to health and well-being The results showed that religious entities operate within a network of relationships. The contribution of religious entities to health in sub-Saharan Africa‟ Main objective i.
Conceptual framework of ARHAP on religious health assets and health
Tangible and intangible religious health assets and their direct and indirect health outcomes
The ARHAP matrix presents two 'forms' of religious health services, namely tangible and intangible, and how these services directly or indirectly impact health outcomes on the well-being of people and communities. These resources demonstrate how faith-based or religious health activities and institutions respond to health challenges.
Tangible Religious Assets and their direct and indirect health outcomes
Intangible Religious Health Assets and their direct and indirect health outcomes In quadrants 1 and 2 of the ARHAP matrix, a second set of religious health assets are identified,
Research findings from Zambia and Lesotho, which strengthen the ARHAP hypothesis
Zambia in the WHO research program under the title, "The nature of religious contribution to health and well-being in Zambia and Lesotho is summarized in finding number five. The figure below shows the findings of Zambia's PIRHANA on the question, "what does religion contribute to health ” and illustrates the nature of the contribution of tangible and intangible religious health assets to health.
Conclusion
This chapter presents findings from four religious health institutions based in the Copperbelt. The general research question of the findings attempts to establish "the contribution of churches or religious health institutions towards direct health outcomes in communities in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia".
Background and profile of the institutions
- Bethel city church: 119
- Fiwale Hill Mission Rural Health Center
- Dawn Trust Community Center
- Isubilo Community Resource Center
The vision of the institution is to see the reduction of poverty and the improvement of the health of the people in the community. The clinic was established to provide a religious health environment to meet the unique needs of people in the community.
Category of the interviewees
The center also has a milling mill where clients who have support in maize production bring their maize crops to be milled. Isubilo believes that water is therefore life; among other services to the community, he dug a well on his premises to draw water to the community without restriction.
Summary of responses from the interviewees on specific questions on religion and health. health
Key findings from the health providers- from the four different religious entities
Religion is at the center of all health matters once we remove it we are left without the true meaning of health or wellness. Question five looked at the perception of whether religion is central to people's health and well-being.
Key findings from health seekers
Wholeness - body, soul and spirit, well-being includes health and leads to the enjoyment of life as a whole. Well-being and health are not the same, although health is understood as an integral part of well-being.
Conclusion
Belief/belief in a supreme being is the driving aspect of seeking health – hope and healing. All respondents believed that religion or a belief in a divine and supreme being serves as a motivation to seek health.
Introduction
Analysis of the possible factors that could have affected the responses and outcome on the study
Their economic status naturally contributes to the type of health services they seek when they are ill. It was clear that their HIV status greatly contributed to the responses related to the value of religion and the contribution that the religious health institutions make in the field of health services.
Analysis of the findings
Poverty factor: As mentioned above, out of all health seekers surveyed, only one was formally employed. Literacy Factor: It was very clear that the levels of education and literacy among the health seekers were very low.
An analysis of the responses by the health providers from the four religious entities
- On the understanding of health
- On the understanding of well being and health
- On the understanding of religion and its relationship to health
- Religion being at the center of health
- Religious assets identified in the organizations
- The direct contribution of religious assets to health and the well being of community The last of the interview questions had to do with the institutions‘ understanding of their direct
It is this understanding of the relationship that exists between religion and health that contributes to forms of health research and services. 146 Adapted from Lesotho ARHAP research on understanding the relationship that exists between religion and health.
An analysis of responses from the health seekers on the understanding of the role religious assets play in the health and well being of the community
- On the understanding of health
- On well being and health
- On the relationship between religion and health
- On religion being a motivation for health seeking
One factor that stands out as a major contributor to community well-being is the provision of free health services in the context of relationships. Another thing that was clear is that visiting a religious health facility to seek health gives greater hope and confidence to health seekers simply because of the religious component.
Interpretation of the findings in the context of the ARHAP Theory matrix
- Finding 1. The holistic understanding of health and its implications on healing The finding from both the health givers and seekers, on their understanding of health shows that
- Finding 2. Religion plays a major role by impacting on the agency of health providers and health seekers
- Finding 3. The nature of religious assets and the contribution they make to health and well being of people
- Finding 4. The religious health entities add value to health and well being of communities
- Finding 5. The collapse in the government and mine health service provision due to SAP accelerated a positive appreciation of religious health entities
- Finding 6. That there is a perceived strong relationship that exists between religion and health which contributes to total well being of the community
- Finding 8. Some of the religious health assets found among faith healers – have the potential to be unhealthy to people
When answering the question about the role of religion in health, it is very clear that religion is perceived and treated as a positive tool that contributes to people's health and well-being. The research study shows that there is a strong relationship between religion and health and that this relationship is understood to contribute to the overall well-being of the community.
Engaging the ARHAP theory matrix on the findings- intangible and tangible assets
The intangible assets which the religious entities contribute to health and well being
It is also still an issue that raises concerns about how some of the religious institutions involved in faith healing work. It is worth noting that love and acceptance are virtues that are abundantly present among the religious entities, especially in the context of HIV and AIDS, which the religious entities contribute to the well-being.
The tangible religious assets present among the religious entity
Conclusion
Introduction
Finally, we will treat the concept of shalom and human salvation in the context of sin and as a broader concept that should influence a holistic approach to health interventions. We conclude this chapter with the challenge these theological factors pose to the ministry of religious institutions and government policy makers.
Theological teaching on the dignity of human life – imago Dei
God's mission in the world becomes visible through the integral or holistic mission of the church. The involvement of religious institutions in health services is a clear demonstration of the holistic mission of the church.
Theological reflection on health, healing, well being and Gods’ kingdom
De Gruchy alludes to the concept of the Kingdom of God and the mission of the church in the world. This is what is referred to as the tension between the “penultimate” and the “ultimate” in the church's ministry in the world.
Health and well being an expression of the concept of God’s shalom
This is a theological motivation that serves as a motivation and challenge for the religious health institutions as they work to make God's kingdom visible in the world through their commitment to improving people's health and well-being. The involvement of religious health institutions in matters of health and well-being is a direct participation in God's vision and God's mission.
Aligning of religious health assets’ contribution to public health system for holistic health
The main argument in this theological reflection is that the church must be an integral part of the culture of healing and health services in the public health systems. As also noted in the results of the church providing a wider base of volunteers in health programs and contributing to communities, the need to adapt these activities in the public health institutions remains a matter of advocacy by religious entities for their wider recognition.
Conclusion
Introduction
Recommendations emerging from the study
- Partnership between religious health/church and public health systems
- Prepare Church workers [pastors and priest] and Christian health workers in holistic healing
- Develop and adopt new appropriate vocabulary – in health, healing and religion in the Zambian context
- Religious entities to focus on an assets based approach to health giving rather than the need driven approach for liberating and transformational health
- Need to create organs within CCZ, EFZ, ZEC to monitor religious health institutions engaging in faith healing
- Integral mission a challenge to the churches today
The complexity of trying to understand health, healing and religion in the Zambian context presents a challenge for health care providers. The Church's calling in the world is to work to improve the quality of people's lives and everything God has created.
Conclusion of the study
BOOKS
Added value and invisibility of religious health assets of the ARHARP collection of concept papers, International Colloquium, Cape Town. The value of religion in religious health assets, ARHAP International Colloquium, concept summary.
For the church leaders and/ or religious health institutional leaders
Two sets of questions were used one for health providers and another for health seekers. These were used to collect data on the contribution of churches to health in the Copperbelt as case studies to explore the meaning and relationship that exists between religion and health.
For the health seekers
I think this is a great asset to the well-being of the people in our healthcare system. I think we contribute to the well-being and health of the people in this community.
